MP helps out for Volunteer Week

AN MP donating a week of his time to help charities in his constinuency stopped off at a Harrogate supermarket to help staff raise money for a national breast cancer campaign.

Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, joined staff at Asda, on Bower Road collecting for Tickled Pink, which raises money for both Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Campaign.

Mr Jones, donned a pink tie for the day and threw himself into the fundraising helping staff to sell £157 worth of raffle tickets in his session at the store.

He said: “Many people stopped to tell us of their direct experience of facing breast cancer or loved ones lost to it.

“Most families will have to face this at some stage, and it is hard. I was keen to support Tickled Pink and in raising awareness for this excellent cause.”

The morning at Asda was just one stop in a busy week that saw Mr Jones spend time at Age Concern UK’s day centre in Knaresborough, the Harrogate Centre for Voluntary Services, Saint Michael’s Hospice, Harrogate Advocacy, The Forest School, the Nature Reserve, loading an aid truck for PhysioNet and even working alongside Harrogate’s Town Pastors on their Friday evening patrols throughout the town centre.

Mr Jones also sponsored a special reception at the House of Commons last week for a Harrogate-based charity, the Association for Perioperative Practices (AfPP) - formerly the National Association of Theatre Nurses.

The charity, which respresents operating department staff in the UK and provides them with education and support to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to offer the highest quality of care to patients.

Mr Jones said: “Having an operation can often be nerve-wracking. We need to feel confident that even under anaesthetic our welfare is being looked after and the highest standards of care are being delivered.

AfPP works to ensure that happens.”

For more information about Mr Jones Volunteering Week 2011 visit his blog at http://volunteerweek2011.wordpress.com.